KNOWING CHRIST

The most important relationship a person can have in their life is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people know about Christ, but they don’t know Christ. There’s a big difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone!

I would like to share with you how you can really know Christ by using 3 simple words: “Realize”, “Repent”, and “Receive”.

REALIZE

First of all, realize that your sin is blocking you from having a relationship with God. That’s the bad news! The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It goes on to say, “For the penalty of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). According to these verses, we all have sinned against God and deserve to be judged and sentenced to death! You may say, “But I’m a good person!” God says in the Scriptures, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10). No matter how many good deeds we may have done, because we have broken God’s laws, we all deserve death. The word “death” in Romans 6:23 refers not only to physical death, but also to spiritual death, or eternal separation from God. Though our bodies may be temporary, our souls will live on forever in one of two places. The place where forgiven people go after death is called “heaven”. The place where unforgiven people go after death is called “hell”.

Aren’t you glad there’s good news? The good news is that God loves you! He doesn’t want to be separated from you! The Bible says that the Father in heaven is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world, to make a way for you to be saved from the penalty of your sins. Peter tells us, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). The eternal Son of God actually left heaven and came into this world. He was born of a virgin, became a Man, lived a sinless life, and went to a Roman cross, where He bled and died in your place! He did this to pay for your sins! Can you imagine the Son of God bleeding and dying for you? After paying for your sins on the cross, 3 days later, Christ rose from the dead! He is now victorious over sin and death! The Father has provided a way for you to escape the judgment of your sins. He will now accept you if you will repent and receive His Son.

REPENT

You must repent. The word “repent” literally means, “To think differently; to change one’s mind.” Jesus warned, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:3). Peter said to those who had not accepted Christ, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19). Paul said, “…God commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Repentance does not mean you have to stop sinning and start doing good works before God will accept you. We know this because Paul also said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2: 8-9). Repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. Rather, it is a change of mind concerning Sin (my sin is wrong and the penalty for my sin is death), Self (I can’t save myself by being good or religious), and concerning the Savior (only Jesus can save me).

RECEIVE

You must receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord! John said, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). When you choose to repent and receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you become a child of God! This is how you go from knowing about Christ to knowing Christ! This is how you enter into a relationship with Him!

LET'S PRAY!

Would you like to receive Christ as your Savior and Lord right now? If you are willing, with all sincerity pray…

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I’m a sinner and there is nothing I can do to save myself. I’m sorry for my sins and rebelling against You. I realize the punishment for my sins is death. But I believe You loved me so much, you took my punishment by dying on the cross for me. I also believe You rose again the third day. Thank You for paying for my sins on the cross. By faith, I now receive You as my Savior and Lord. Please forgive all my sins. Help me now to get to know You through reading Your Word and praying to You daily. Amen!

If you have sincerely received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, the Bible says you are saved from your sins and you will live with Christ forever! You now have no reason to fear death, because God has adopted you into His family!

You might say, “Is it really that simple?” Listen to the Word of God:

“Therefore, having been justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)

Now that you have received Christ, we would like to give you a free resource to help you in your relationship with Him. It’s called, “Start! The Bible for New Believers“ (by Greg Laurie). Just stop by the Welcome Center after any service and let us know of your decision and we will give you this free book. Or, you can email us at info@calvarypsl.org and we will mail the book to you.

I would also encourage you to begin reading the Bible every day. The Gospel of John is a great place to start! Pray that Jesus would reveal His will to you and then read His Word. His will is found in His Word! When you finish John, dig into the rest of the Bible! You can download a daily Bible reading plan at www.blueletterbible.org (click on “Devotionals” / “Daily Bible Reading Program”).

Of course, it is also important to come to church each week to worship God, study His Word, and connect with other believers.

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2: 6-7